Zareh I
Encyclopedia
His Holiness Zareh I Payaslian (14 February 1915, Marash - 18 February 1963, Beirut
, Lebanon
) was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church
from 1956 to 1963.
Born Simon Payaslian, he was the first graduate of the Seminary of Antelias of the Catholicossate. Before his election as Catholicos of Cilicia, he served as Primate of Aleppo
, Syria
for 16 years. He was elected during very acrimonious times between various Armenian political factions that had left the position vacant for around 4 years since the death of the Catholicos Karekin I
in 1952.
He was elected in 1956 and tried to restore some harmony between various factions, particularly after the inter-Armenian strife in Lebanon in 1958.
During his reign, and in 1962, the Catholicosate became a full member of the World Council of Churches
and sent observers to the Vatican Council II.
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
) was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
from 1956 to 1963.
Born Simon Payaslian, he was the first graduate of the Seminary of Antelias of the Catholicossate. Before his election as Catholicos of Cilicia, he served as Primate of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
for 16 years. He was elected during very acrimonious times between various Armenian political factions that had left the position vacant for around 4 years since the death of the Catholicos Karekin I
Karekin I (Cilicia)
His Holiness Karekin I was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1943-1952.Born Garegin Hovsepian and originally from Artsakh, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1909...
in 1952.
He was elected in 1956 and tried to restore some harmony between various factions, particularly after the inter-Armenian strife in Lebanon in 1958.
During his reign, and in 1962, the Catholicosate became a full member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and sent observers to the Vatican Council II.